Fencing foil



Aug- 25, 4 B. E. DE TuscAN 7 2,294,026

I V FENCING FOIL F iled Aug. 28, 1940 INVENTOR 4 7.2256427.

Patented Aug. 25, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FENCING FOIL Bela E. de Tuscan, Detroit, Mich.

Application August 28', 1940, Serial No. 354,545

Claims.

This invention relates to the art of fencing and particularly relates to improved foils for use in the game offencing or in pe and saber.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an improved fencing blade in which such blade is tubular in form so that it is lighter in weight than the prior solid blades now used in conventional fencing and when in use will not break but rather will buckle without breaking, thereby rendering it less dangerous in use in that the prior solid blades would breakand thereby become dangerous.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fancin-g blade which is tubular in form so that it is readily adaptabl in the use of electrical foils, pes, and sabers.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved electrical foil or pe of the types disclosed and claimed in U. S. patent to C. M. Harter, No. 2,206,697, granted July 2, 1940, in that in the present invention the contact element at the tip of the blade is so constructed and arranged that contact will only be made in the event of a proper touch.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawing relating thereto, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views throughout:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a foil embodying the improved features of th present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 1 and showing the tip of the blade in its association with an external electrical conductor such as a metallized jacket worn by an opponent.

Referring to the drawing, a foil is illustrated which comprises a blade l0. Such blade I0 is of tubular, oval cross-sectional configuration gradually tapering from the handle end of the blade toward the tip. The tubular blade I0 is light in weight and is flexible so that such blade may bend but when bent a considerable amount will merely buckle without breaking. Such blade ID has its handle end welded to a co-axial handle portion l2, which is in the form of a rod of less diameter than the smallest cross-sectional diameter of the blade l0. The handle portion of the 5 foil includes removable portions l4 and I6, each of which is provided with an opening therethrough so that such portion I 4 is slidably received over the handle portion l2. The rear end of the rod 12 is threaded and threadably receives thereon the removable portion l6 for holding the elements in assembled relationship.

A conventional guard I8 is received between the blade l0 and the handle portion [4 and is held in its assembled position when the portion I6 is threaded on to the member l2.

A second guard or bell 20 is associated with the guard l5 and is releasably secured to the blade by means of a set screw 22. The bell 20 provides a cover ,for the electric mechanism including the relay, batteries and indicating means, and may be easily removed in case it is necessary to repair the electrical mechanism or replaue the worn out elements thereof. The bell 20 may be transparent or may be formed of metal and perforated in order to render the electric bulb visible and which when lighted forms the visible indicating means.

The electric circuit for the indicating means includes an insulated conductor in the form of an insulated wire 24, which is disposed within the tubular blade I!) and extends from the tip to the handle thereof. The tip end of the electrical connector 24, as indicated at 26, is secured to a metallic, electric contact element 28. Such contact element 28 is mounted within a metal, conical shield element 30, which forms an electric contact element and which embraces and is fixed to the tip of blade It] in electric contact therewith.

The contact element 28 is mounted within the element 30 and is separated therefrom by means of insulating members 32 and 34, which may be rubber, and which are compressed within the shell 30 so that the contact element 28 is insulated from the shell 30 and also from the blade H1. The shield member 30 is provided with an open annular face 36 having the edges turned in for securing and mounting the insulating member 34. The forward contact tip of contact element 28 projects slightly forwardly beyond the exposed face of member 34, which is depressed inwardly from the forward annular edge of element 38. It will thus be seen that the exposed tip of contact element 28 is recessed with respect to the annular edge 36, so that the tip of the foil must engage the metallized jacket 38 with some force and be in the form of a thrust in order that the metallized jacket 38 contacts the contact element 28 together with the annuare associated with the relay 42 and all of such.

When

contact is made between elements 28 and 30,

elements are mounted within the bell 20.

through the metallized jackets 38, the electric circuit to the relay 42 is closed. The circuit is completed through the ground connection of element 30 with blade H and through the ground connection of one of the bulb terminals with thebulb socket which is grounded to blade H through element 50 and shield l8. For a complete description of the electric circuit and its operation, reference may be had to the patent above referred to.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a foil for use in conventional fencing, a blade secured to a handle, said blade being tubular and oval in cross-section.

2. In a foil for use in conventional fencing, a blade secured to a handle, said blade being tubular and oval in cross-section and gradually tapering towards the tip thereof.

3. In a foil for use in conventional fencing, in combination, a blade having a handle portion, a guard interposed between said blade and handle portion, an insulated electric contact element adjacent the tip of said blade, indicating means electrically connected with said contact element whereby the circuit to said indicating means is normally opened, a shield member adjacent the tip of said blade and shielding said contact element against contact except in the event of thrusts, said contact being constructed and arranged to close said circuit through an external electric conductor, such as a metallized jacket worn by an opponent.

4. In a foil for use in conventional fencing, in combination, a blade having a handle portion, a guard interposed between said blade and handle portion, indicating means, a metallic shield member mounted on said blade adjacent the tip thereof, an electric contact element mounted within said shield member and insulated therefrom, means electrically connecting said contact element with said indicating means, said shield member having an open forward face, and said contact element being recessed inwardly of said open face.

5. In an electric foil, a blade, a metallic shield member mounted on the tip of said blade in contact therewith, an electric contact element mounted within said shield member and insulated from said shield member and from said blade, said shield member having an open forward face and said contact portion exposed through said face,,

the exposed portion of said contact element being disposed inwardly of the open forward face of said shield element.

BELA E. DE TUSCAN. 

